NOTES BY HIPPONA

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 4

NOTES BY HIPPONA

Fuosi ovory point of view, tho Auckland Racing Club Spring Mooting on Tuesday wii" tho most successful the Club have yet hold. Thanks to tho delightful woathor, tho atlendaiico of spectators in tho middle part of tho afternoon must liavo numbered fully ;!,000, and tho racing throughout was of an interesting character. To the majority thoi'Q is no doubt tho Welcome Stakes provided the greatest attraction of tho afternoon, and it served to introduce oight two-yoar-olds that would not have disgraced any racecourse. Whilo undergoing thoir toilettes, each candidate camo in for a largo /era; and for condition it was conceded that Petroleum, Ricochet, and Iteprouch had the pull over theircompanions, but out of tho lot nothing ploasod mo so much aa tho firstnamed, whom Carmody had looking tho very picture of health and condition, Tho chances of Scot I'reo winning woro looked on with but littlo favour,mainly on account of it being plainly evident that ho had not donesnfflciout work, but despite this his powerful woll-shapod framo canio in for a doal of admiration. Whon it camo to racing, ho was all there, and tho game manner in which ho strugglod homo from his companions in tho raco was n sight worth witnessing. Scot Free was bred by his owner, and was got by tho defunct Stcrlingworth (imported hero from Australia by tho Now Zealand Stud Company) out of a Dainty Ariel mare, and thoro is no mistaking tho fact that in him Mr U. McKinnon owns a rattling good colt, who when ho gets thoroughly woundup, should ba further hoard of. It cannot bo said though that tho race was fought outentiroly on its merits, forthrcoof tho compotitors woro badly interfered with, notably Ricochet, Petroleum, and Reproach, the latter being jammed ngain-t tho rails at tho finish, whiio I'otroleum was blocked and had to como up on the outside, or ho would havo been much closer up. This ho amply proved later on in tho Epsom Plato, which tho son of Oadogan won from end to end like a, racehorse, defeating Scot Free after a desperate set to, by halfa length. Both Petroleum and Snot Free givo promise of improving with age, and I think it is over short ooursoa that Reproach and Ricochet will bo mostly heard of. Tho Princo of Wales Handicap turned out tho good tiling it was anticipated for Cinderella, who is certainly proving a very prolitable speculation for her owner. She did not, however, have it all her own way, for Woodnymph was only stalled off by a neck in tho last twenty yards from homo. Tho mooting altogether provided atirst-chiss day's enjoymotit, and tho success of tho Club at thoir inaugural mooting augurs well for a .-uct'cssfill season,

Tho New Zealand Cup of ISSj has now boon Humborod with tlio past:, and although it foil to old Musket's threo-yoar old son Fusilado, it cannot bo said that it will bo looked upon with pleasuro by those local turlitoa who lovo to havo thoir "pound" on. Tho dream of tlioir hearts for months past has been Turquoise, and right loyally has ho boon supported by them, for they well know that it was only a mutter of health for tho horco to see tho post. But tho glorious uncertainty of tho turf has once more boon exemplified, and tho Auckland representative, who wo thought would at least gain n place, haa boon badly defeated. When wo como to consider (ho timo the nu;o was run in, viz., ,'imin. M7.JSOC, it is hard to account for his collapse, aa I loam from a private source that after a milo and throoquartors of tho journey had boon travorsed, ho was not in tho hunt. As I stated last week, Fusilado, tho winner, was evidently a woll-kopl rod in pickle for tho event, for tho account of tha running states that \\hon ho was linked the question nt tho finish, ho caino away and won by a length from Administrator, tho highlybred Lochio! being third. At this juncture n low facts concerning Fusilado's past history may provo interesting to my readord, Jlo mudo his Brat uppoaranco in public at tho Chrixtchurch I'lumpton Lark Meeting in September, 18S1, whore ho ran for his breeder, Mr H. Westmacott, in tho Two-Yenr-Old Flutter. This he wou oasily, beating his only opponents, Tho Shah and Ncmosi?, by two lengths, and covering the four furlongs in lmin. S^sec. Tho colt then passed into tho hands of Mr P, Butler for 500 guineaß,and ho was mado a warmfuvouiito for the Wolcomo Stakes at tho C.J.C. Spring Moeting, but in that eventhocutup very inditl'erontly. In tho following Fobniary ho was taken down to Dunodin for tho Champagne Stakes, but again cut an inglorious exhibition, and shortly afterwards it was announced that he had beon purchased by Mr li, Kay. This onded lilm two-year-old career, and his first appearance this season was in tho Geraldino Racing Club Handicap, which he won very easily irom Tim Wnifllcr, Ike, Take Miss, and Uocket, tho l.{ milo boing compasaod in 2inin. Itis.ee, For tho Cup noxt day ho left tho"paddock with odds on him, but ho mysteriously collapsed in tho early part of tho ruco, duo it if. Sf id to some one having " doctored" tho colt. Previous to the Uoraldino Meeting, and since then, however, ho was well supported to win Tuesday's event, and judging by his running,the party bohind him mado no mistake in thinking they had a good thing. Fusilado is among those nominated for the Auckland Cup, but unfortunately his name is misßing from tho list of Perby entries. Tho headings of his pedigree road as follows : — FUSIL \DE, Wai-hi Musket (imp). "3i 3 9 3 S s'" ° m a ay- tr a eft ■ ■ re V 3? Mr Evett's handicap for tho Auckland Cup and Steeplechase will appear on or about tho 24th November. So infatuated are a number of local backers with Nordonfoldt that I hoar of eevoral who havo already sent inonoy to Australia to support tho eon of Musket for tho Champion Kaco, run in March next. Trenton's namo is unfortunately missing from the list ofontrisa for tho great throemile contest.

That doughty Now Zealand champion Sir Modrod has pa?sed into tho hands of Mr Haggin, of San Francisco, and although I am unable to gain any reliable information from the local agents of tho Pncific Stoamship Company, i understou. ho was on board tho mail steamer C—y r. Sydnoy on Tuesday la3t bound f lit... new homo. The son of Traducer was purchased through Mo3srs Brown Brothers aud Co., of Sydney, and tho price paid was 1,800 guineas. Mr Haggin, it will bo remembered, was anxious to purchase Commotion.and ho has an estoto of 400,000 acres of purcba?od land near Sacramento, and an extensive thoroughbred ntucl. SirModred'snewowner haa been very successful on the American turf, and only this season won the Withers Stake, the great three-year-old event of the New York meeting, with Tyrant, a son of Great Tom Although the paddocks of Australia can ill afford to lose such an ornament aa Sir Modred, there is some consolation in knowng that ho goos where every opportunity will be given him of proving his worth.

The Caulfield Cup meeting of the Vie toria Amateur Turf Club was financially a great auccess. Tho receipts wero by far the largest evur hooked, and tho profits amounted to £3800, aa against; £2200 lait year,

During tho lnst fortnight Musket's eons and daughtore havo certainly been keeping his momory green. Tho bitter battle fought out in tlio Canterbury Plato at Flemington on Saturday last bot we ton his brilliant song, Trenton and iNordcnfoldt, will effectually shut the mouths of thoso who havo boen in the habit of talking lightly of tho "soft Toxopholite strain," for tlio iinish of the raco would appear to have boon fought out inch by inch to tho bitter ond. At Kiccarton on Tuesday last, another of Muskot'n eons in tho shapo of Fusilado gave Canterbury .sports a further tasto of tho old fellow's ability to get racehorses by annexing tho Now Zealand Cup, whilo Soudan (full brother to Krupp) boat a good field in tho Free Hand ion p, In Uio Hawke's Buy provilico this wcolc, Musket's promising' daughter Wailiri also placed tlio l'otano Gup to her credit, whilo coming noaror homo Woodnymph gained further kudos for the defunct stallion by boating those opposed to hor in tho Trial Stakos at tho Auckland Spring Mooting,

At tho sale of Mr E. Do Metro's yearlings in Melbourne, 1 notioo that Mr D. O'Brien becamo the purchacor of a brown nolt by Robinson Crutuo from Sitnahino for Kis guineas. 'L'iio highest price realised at tho sale was 2!)0 guinoas, which sum Mr T. Lamond paid fora chestnut colt by Robinson Crusoo —Ciiovanna. AtMrS. Ciardinor's sale a two-year-old filly, by Tho Marquis, or Angler, from Liirline, was run upto72sgs., when sho was knocked down to Mr A. Davis.

It. is worthy of remark that out. of the 10 principal spurting writers in Sydnoy, .Melbourne, and Adelaide, not ono mentioned Sheet Anchor as ;i probable, or oven possible, winner of tho Melbourne Cup. from 15 to 20 separato horses wero named by tho.'O wrilors as "placed" horses, but in only ono journal (tho Molbourno " Weekly Times') waa Sheet Anchor montoncd, and thon only for a third place. The " boss tip" was given in Now Zealand by "Sir I.auneolnt" who picked in tho "Referee" Sheet Anchor, Trenton, and lloncydow in tho order named to tight out tho finish.

A dispute a oso in Molbourno on sottling day over tho V.11.C. Derby, relative to tho payment of wagers connected with tho win tor favourito Newsteud. Thoso backers who rofuso to [lay Imso their objection on the grounds that Newptead was provontod from winning through a conspiracy, and tho Adelaide Tattersall's Club has boon appealed to on the subject. What the result of (hoir inquiries is likoly to bo it i« hard to say, but somo curious disclosures are expoctod. It has boon givon out that two bookmakers had powor to scratch tho favourito at any timo they chose, and if cup.li a ftatemont bo oven flavoured with truth, thomattor requires to bo sifted thoroughly.

Once moro has the Goralditio Mooting provided a reliable lino for tho Now Zealand Cup, and tor tho third year in succession tho winner of tho lioraldino Racing Club Handicap has proved triumphant in tho big event at Kiocarton. In ISS'f Tasman appropriated that raco, and last year Vanguard proved successful, whilo Fusilado put tho ovent to his crodtt this year. In 183-, Welcome .lack also showed a doal of form at tho Ooraldino Meotintf, and subsequently won tho Now Zealand Cup in tho fastest timo yet recorded for tho race.

T.6-borno,a well known English jockoy has arrived in Melbourne, and proposes s-ottlinjr in Australia. Osbornc has been vory successful on tho racecourses of England, and won, among other race?, the St. Loger, tho Yorkshire Oaks, tho l'arkhill Stakes, and tho Nowmarkct Oaks on Marie Stuart,

Princo of Walos's Stakes on Lcoliuus (now tho property of tho New Zealand Stud Company), tho 1 ivorpool Cup on Wynyard, tho Manchester and Shrewsbury Cups on Indian Ocean, thy I'rincoof Wales'* Stakes tho Giincrack Stakes, tho first October Stakes, tho Fernhil! Stakes, tho Boguor Stakes, tho Bradgato-park Stakes, the Queen's Stand Plato, tho Now Biennial Stakes (twice) and tho July Cup on Springfield, the Now Stakes, the Alexandra Plato and tho Great Yorkshire Stakes on Coltness,

and tho Northumberland Plate ouFalkland

Tho "Molbourno Sportsmin" ha< thu following with reference to tho V.X.C. Derby: -We very rarely witness a Derby in which every horso is tinder tho whip "two furlongs from homo, in fact wo never romember ftich an occurrenca as that of Saturday, when whips were going like flails as tho whole liuld swept round the turn. It looked liko anything* raco, and

it was only by sheer, gamo battling and determination that Nordonfoldt, lighting out every inch, juet got homo on the post, amidst a scene of oxcitoment almost un-

paralleled on a racecourse. So oloso iniload was tho finish that during tho interval (which seemed liko hours) which elapsed boforo tho numbers went up only thoso standing in a direct lino with the

judge's box woro certain which had won,

and many backers of Nordonfoldt, whilo waiting for tho verdict, "saved" with Chester's supporters. When at length tho tho big 3, which denoted that Nordonfoldt had won his second Derby was hoisted, a lioaworoar of delight fairly shook tho stand, thon up went hats and pigeons, and a general rush was mado to the telegraph oflico.-?. Now Zealand and Sydney wires predominating. Referring tc tho leveo of the Derby horsea previous to tho start, the authority says of tho New Zoalandcrs: — Nordenfddl, of course, came in for most attention—in fact, the crowd which congregated around tho crack son of Musket was groator than tho miss

which surrounded Martini-Henry boforo ho won his Cup. Nordenfeldt and Dunlop were, in my opinion, far and away tho best* conditioned hoiv-cs in tlio raco tho favourito looking (it to run for a man's life. Thunder bolt, on tho contrary would havo boon served by a fortnight's moro work, and of the pair Winchester cortainly carried moet condition. With Derritt in tho saddle, Now Zealandors to a man pinned their faith to Thundorbolt, who was ono of tho grandestlooking horfos on tho course, his quarters especially attracting much admiration from the concourse superintending his toilot.

Strange to cay, Hales did not havo a mount in tho Molbourno Cup this yoar, Ellis riding Nordonfoldt and McAulifTo Despot for tho Hon. .1. White With reforonce to Ellis having tho mount on Nordcnfoldt in tho Derby, a Sydnoy paper pays ; — In giving Kllis preference ovor tho first mount, Hales, in tho V.X.C. Derby, and pacing tho former on Nordenfeldt, the stable displayed excellent judgment, for, although Hales is quite capablo of concoding many pounds to his brother professional whero a "head" and "hands" only aro required on a froo horse, ho lacks the utrongih ho requisite to do justice to such a sluggard a? tho eon ol Onyx in a race liko tho Derby.

Although tho injurioa L>rd Exeter unstained in the raco for tho Melbourne; Cup woro at lirst considered co serious as to leave no hope of his undergoing another preparation, it is said that thoy havo turned out much hotter than anticipated, and his owner expects that tho speedy son of Julian Avenol and Tiara will undergo another preparation,

Mr \V. A. Long haa purchasod ths Adelaide filly Madolina, by Nockeisgat, from Me" Morrilies, for USO guineas. Monaghan, tho Now South Wales trainer, has been rather unfortunate with tho two-yoar-old (illy My Lady, who wont amiss two or threo days before tho commencement of tho V.11.C. Meeting,and tho pen had to bo run through her name for all engagements.

The English stud known as the " Harden Deer Park " has been brokon up, and at tho enle of maros and foals tho total amount realised amounted to 18,505 guineas. Of this sum, IHSO guineas was the highest mico of tho Biilo given for tho broodmare True Lovo (187S) by Sterling from Carnio, a daughter of Stock well; and Mosquito (1871) by Toxopholito (siro of Musket), dam by Woft Australian, fell to tho nod of Lord Wolvcrton for l."00 guineas. Tho samo purchaser gave lOOOguinoas for Lady J'eregrino (187'J), also a daughter of Toxopholito, from Adolaide. The stallions Goorgo Frederick and Boaudesort were ofl'ored, but passed in at their respective rosorvos 4500 guineas and 2500guinoas. Messrs Stephenson and Ha'zlett's marc Fallacy (dam of Evertou Lad), has this season dropped a filly foa.l to Albany, and is to bo sent to Apromont. Mr Peok'a colfc The' Bard continued his victorious career at Doncastur, the win in tho Tattorsall Sa'lo Slakos, making hi? sixteenth consecutive success this saaWn, the value of thcafakes won being HjiSS 9d. P. Archer, who had ridden tho son of Potrarch and Magdalene on 13 previous occasions, had the mount on this occasion, but though the colt won easily at the finish, tho odds of 100 to 12 betted on him looked in jeopardy at one timo, Archer having tho misfortune to break a stirrup-leather during the race. Mr Robert Howett, a leading English bookmaker and owner of racehorses, has arrived at Melbourne on a three months' visit to the colonies.

As a mark of respect for tho late Donald Nicholson,all ths riders on the opening day of tho V.8.0. Sprint; Meeting wore black crapo around their arms.

Advices this weokfrctn Melbourne stato thct MeGrade'j diamond ring has been found. It was jacked up by a boy who resides at South Brighton,